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Thursday, June 03, 2010

The Phillies added quite a bit of speed Thursday when they signed outfielder Willie Taveras to a minor league deal.

The Dominican native was a star in 2005 with the National League Champion Houston Astros when he batted .291 with 34 steals and 82 runs as he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Taveras recorded a NL-high 68 steals with the the 2008 Rockies but has faltered since in stints with the Reds and Nationals. The Nats released him last month after batting only .200 with one steal and four RBI in 37 plate appearances.